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Nutrient molecules show potential for retinal regeneration
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Two recently published studies showed positive responses from using nutrition molecules to affect improvements in the retina. I’d like to share these abstracts with you to show how advancing nutritional science can make a significant impact on retinal health.
The first study evaluated whether co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from apoptosis and, when instilled as eye drops on the cornea, if it can reach the retina and exert its activity in this area.
According to the abstract, rat primary or cultured RGCs were subjected to glutamate (50 μm) or chemical hypoxia (antimycin A, 200 μm) or serum withdrawal (FBS, 0.5%) in the presence or absence of CoQ10 (10 μm). Light microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses were used to evaluate cell viability. Caspase 3/7 activity and mitochondrion depolarization tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester analysis was used to evaluate apoptosis.
The results showed that CoQ10 significantly increased viable cells by preventing RGC apoptosis. Furthermore, when topically applied to the cornea, it reached the retina, thus substantially increasing local CoQ10 concentration and protecting retinal layers from apoptosis.
Jeffrey Anshel
The conclusion showed that the ability of CoQ10 eye drops to protect retinal cells from apoptosis in the mouse model of retinal damage suggests that topical CoQ10 may be evaluated in designing therapies for treating apoptosis-driven retinopathies.
The second study discussed using molecular medicine to regenerate damaged tissues in the human retina via the use of small antioxidant molecules to promote survival of internally produced stem cells. It may be the first successful report of cellular or tissue regeneration via internally derived stem cells in all of medicine.
In a newly published scientific book, Stuart Richer, OD, PhD, presents striking photographic evidence of stem cell regeneration of damaged tissues at the back of the eye of a patient with dry macular degeneration accompanied by restoration of vision after using a nutraceutical comprised of small natural antioxidant molecules. Richer is director of the Ocular Preventive Medicine Eye Clinic at the James A. Lovell Federal (Veterans) Health Care Center in North Chicago (and Ocular Nutrition Society Science Committee chair).
Attempts to transplant retinal cells in humans have been met with difficulty. In one study, the rejection rate was 75% without immune-suppressing drugs being used. In animals, even though implanted retinal cells were not immediately rejected, chronic low-grade rejection occurred. Scarring, immune rejection or malignancy emanating from use of immune-suppressant drugs are drawbacks to retinal transplantation.
An alternative to re-injection of stem cells obtained from the patient’s own tissues and grown in a lab dish is to employ methods that would promote survival of internally generated stem cells after tissue injury. The possibility of using molecular medicine to elicit retinal repair via endogenous stem cells would obviously be safer, easier and more efficient and economical than implantation of cells.
Richer says it is well known that stem cells have the potential to replace damaged light-receptor cells in the back of the eyes. Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of self-renewal through cell division and, under certain conditions, can be induced to become heart, brain, muscle, eye, etc. cells with specialized functions.
“While we do not have direct photographic confirmation, we believe this regeneration of retinal tissue was induced by stem cells. There is no other plausible explanation,” says Richer.